Invesigations Continue After Woman's Death
16 March 2011, 05:00 | Updated: 16 March 2011, 11:55
Police want to speak to a female member of the public, as inquiries continue into the circumstances leading to the death of a young woman on the railway line between Brandon and Santon Downham on Monday night.
Suffolk Police started a joint investigation with British Transport Police after it happened. At around 8.30pm police got a call concerning a domestic incident on a boat on the River Little Ouse in the Brandon area, and was making active inquiries in about this when just after 9.30pm a train driver reported that his freight train had struck a person a short distance from Santon Downham, near the level crossing.
A post mortem examination found that the woman died as a result of being struck by a train. Formal identification is yet to take place, but her family has been notified and the coroner has also been informed. The death is not being treated as suspicious.
Officers from Suffolk Constabulary and British Transport Police are currently working to establish what happened before the woman’s death. At around 4.30am a 45-year-old man from the Brandon area was arrested on suspicion of false imprisonment. He was taken into custody at Bury St Edmunds Police Station and questioned before being released on police bail. He must return to Bury Police Station on 26th April.
Officers want to speak to a woman who was reported to be on the riverside and the boat in Brandon yesterday afternoon. Detective Inspector Andy Footer said, “The boat was tied up at moorings near the Brandon Ram on Monday afternoon. At some point during the afternoon the woman got onto the vessel, spoke to the occupants and took a ride along the river in the boat.
“We need to trace this lady as she may be able to assist our investigation. She is described as in her late 50s or early 60s with grey/blonde hair, and was wearing a lilac jacket. She had a purple mountain bike with her at the moorings.”
Police also want to speak to anyone who may have seen a woman in distress in the forest around Santon Downham last night prior to 9.30pm.
Calls should be made to West Suffolk CID on 01473 613500.
As there was police involvement in the incident Suffolk Constabulary has referred it to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) as a matter of course.